###Morning in the Meng Dynasty Capital
The morning in the capital of the Meng Dynasty was like any other day. The streets buzzed with life as people moved about their business, unconcerned about the looming war with the Li Dynasty. They had faith in their emperor, Meng Tian, and believed he would crush any threat to their kingdom.
However, in the Li Dynasty, the air was thick with despair. The sight of eight severed heads at the entrance of the imperial palace had sent shockwaves across the land. The heads belonged to three generals and five princes, figures who had once symbolized strength and leadership. Now, they lay lifeless, a chilling message from the Meng Dynasty. Rumors spread like wildfire, and soon the entire kingdom feared that Meng Tian's army would march upon them next.
Unbeknownst to them, Meng Tian had no such intentions. His plan was to cripple their forces, not conquer their lands. But another emperor—Qian Cheng of the Qian Dynasty—saw an opportunity. With the power balance between the Meng, Li, and Qian Dynasties disturbed, Qian Cheng began to scheme, his ambition stirred by the weakened state of the Li Dynasty.
###Inside the Li Dynasty's Imperial Palace
The grand halls of the Li Dynasty's imperial palace were shrouded in grief. The once elegant queen now sat motionless, her vacant eyes fixed upon the heads of her sons, her soul seemingly drained from her body. She had brought them into this world, carried them for nine months, only to see them meet such a grisly end. Her heart yearned to cry, but the emotional blow had left her numb, unable to process the full weight of her loss.
Outside the palace, the sorrow of the queen was mirrored by the wails of women throughout the capital. Mothers, wives, and daughters mourned the men who had marched off to war, knowing they would never return. Anger and hatred began to fester in their hearts, not toward their own emperor but toward the Meng Dynasty, whom they now blamed for their misery. They craved vengeance, blood for blood.
###The Emperor's Court
Emperor Li sat upon his throne, his face pale and drawn, his eyes devoid of the fire they once held. Around him, the officials in the court shared his grief, many having lost sons of their own in the failed war. In his hands, the emperor held a letter—a taunting message sent by Meng Tian. The note thanked him for the "free slaves" he had provided and for "clearing the way" by eliminating five troublesome princes.
Li's heart burned with hatred and regret. He had been foolish to engage in this war, and now his people and family had paid the ultimate price. With the weight of his guilt heavy upon him, the emperor made a desperate decision. To ensure that the Meng Dynasty would not send its forces into his lands, he would offer one of his daughters in marriage.
The court balked at the suggestion. How could they agree to send a Li princess to the very empire that had slaughtered their people? But in the end, they accepted that the emperor's decision was born out of necessity—for the survival of their dynasty.
The empress, however, was devastated. Her heart could not bear to send her youngest daughter, and so she devised a cruel plan. She remembered a concubine who had once offended her, whose daughter, Li Xiaoye, was said to be quite beautiful. The empress swiftly sent an order that Li Xiaoye be chosen as the bride for the Meng Dynasty.
###Li Xiaoye's Departure
The news was met with silence and tears. Li Xiaoye's mother, who had fallen out of favor with the emperor, had no powerful family to protect her. She wept as the imperial decree was read, unable to defy the order. Her young daughter, only four years old, was to leave for the Meng Dynasty to secure peace.
Little Li Xiaoye, unaware of the gravity of the situation, watched her mother cry, confused and frightened. She had grown up isolated in the palace, never knowing her father or receiving the love of her siblings. They had always looked down on her, bullying her because of her mother's lowly status. Yet, she had kept her suffering secret, not wanting to burden her mother with more sorrow.
As her mother wept, Li Xiaoye began to cry too, asking why she had to leave. She promised to be obedient, to stay by her mother's side, but her fate had already been sealed. Her mother held her close, knowing that this might be the last time she could ever embrace her child.
###Two Days Later – The Journey to the Meng Dynasty
Li Xiaoye's journey to the Meng Dynasty began with little fanfare. She traveled with an envoy and a small group of soldiers, her dowry carried in separate carriages. In her short life, she had never once seen her father. She had hoped that perhaps, on the day of her departure, he might come to see her off, but her hopes were in vain. Only her mother stood at the gates, tears streaming down her face as she waved goodbye.
The journey took nearly a month, but as they crossed into Meng territory, the traveling party was astonished by the quality of the roads. In the Li Dynasty, they had trudged through muddy, uneven paths, often delayed by the carriage wheels getting stuck. But in the Meng Dynasty, the roads were smooth and paved, making the journey far easier. Along the way, they stopped at rest areas built for travelers and merchants, marveling at the cleanliness and convenience of the facilities.
Even Li Xiaoye, despite her sadness, couldn't help but be excited. The roads, the resting places, even the bathrooms—all were far superior to anything she had seen in her homeland. For a moment, she forgot her worries and acted like the child she still was, filled with curiosity and wonder at this new land.
Though she did not yet know it, Li Xiaoye would one day be remembered as one of the most benevolent and beloved queens in the history of the Meng Dynasty.
Author's Note:
This chapter focuses on the complexities of human nature, the emotions of war, and the political intrigue that can arise from such circumstances. For those wondering, there will be no love triangle or forced romance with Victor. This is a slow-paced story, and I plan to explore each aspect of the characters and their world in depth. If you prefer faster-paced stories, this might not be for you. See you in the next chapter!